Casas, a 41-year-old former RP Open champion, was bogey-free as he carved up par-72 Pattana Golf and Sports Resort to win the 50,000-dollar Mercedez-Benz Tour event by two strokes with 17-under 271.

The bitterly disappointed Kiradech, 19, was second with fellow Thai Atthaphon Prathummanee another three shots back in third.

‘’I have had some personal problems which I don’t want to talk about, but I am back now and ready to go again,’’ said Casas, who claimed the $ 7,510 (about P345,460) winner’s check

‘’My scorecard may look like I cruised around but it wasn’t easy. But after the 13th I felt very confident.’’

Casas’s win breaks a seven-year drought after his last triumph at the 2001 Philippine Open.

He has been in the golfing wilderness for the past three years, spending much of his time coaching the Philippine Amateur team and struggling to recapture his form.

Kiradech, who started the round with a three-shot lead, was left cursing an untimely off-day after his 71.

‘’I just couldn’t do anything right today. Nothing felt right. I will learn from this but I am very disappointed,’’ said the teenager.